Bhotekoshi River has been swept away the Bailey bridge connecting Nepal’s Tatopani border with China, effectively severing the key trade route. The collapse has isolated villages in Ward Nos. 2 and 3 of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality, forcing locals to use jungle trails for transportation.

The Bailey bridge, an essential connection for commercial activities with China, was installed after a 2017 landslide destroyed a permanent concrete bridge on the Araniko highway. Despite the importance of this route for trade, especially with goods bound for the upcoming Dashain festival, the government has been criticised for neglecting to rebuild a durable replacement.

Tatopani customs officials confirmed that the destruction of the bridge has halted the movement of containers, severely affecting trade. Local businesses, particularly those relying on imports of essential goods, face significant disruptions. “Now, transporting goods on foot will be the only option, and this will prove extremely difficult,” an official from Tatopani customs stated.

The flooding has also begun eroding the customs yard, worsening conditions for any attempts at resuming trade. Given the precarious position of the bridge location on rocky cliffs, even temporary fixes, such as placing pipes across the river, are seen as impractical.